Update – June 20th, 2011

2011 WHITEWATER SUMMER SERIES

Just a reminder that the 2011 Whitewater Summer Series begins this coming Sunday with a slalom race at Ottawa’s Pumphouse followed on Monday by the OKS Freestyle event on the Ottawa, the MKC Downriver and Slalom mid-week, with the series wrapping up at the Gull July 1-3 with Boater Cross, the annual Andrew Westlake Memorial Slalom Race and a lower slalom race.  A group of young paddlers from Australia and New Zealand will be arriving in Ottawa later this week to participate in the series along with Canadian and American paddlers.

Updates are available on the Whitewater Ontario website: http://www.whitewaterontario.ca/competitive-racing-program/summer-whitewater-series/race-series-overview.html

Registration (for series or individual events:

https://www.zone4.ca/register.asp?id=1954

ADVOCACY

As you know the WO Advocacy Committee has been very busy this past winter and spring and shows no signs of slowing down.  As part of Whitewater Ontario’s Strategic Plan Forward Strokes: Reaching Ahead, the committee has identified the following priorities for 2011:

1. Continue to support the Save the Petawawa campaign and attend Xeneca information sessions

2. Identify River Access points where we can negotiate WO/landowner partnership agreements and post signage. Start with installing signs at the Black River in Queensborough and if possible at the Salmon River Put-in/Takeout.

3. Submit MEC grant application for seed money to host an Advocacy Event in the summer of 2012

4. Develop a River Steward program to attract local river advocates to work with the committee

5. Post and maintain a Rivers at Risk list on the website.

6. Provide WO representation to attend Ontario Rivers Alliance meetings; network with like-minded river advocacy organizations

INSTRUCTOR RECERTIFICATION

We had 10 existing instructors recertified at the Palmerfest Recertification sessions. This included well-known paddlers Billy Harris, Tyler Curtis and Joey Hitchins from the Freestyle world, and three time Olympian James Cartwright.  The recertification sessions were very successful and help to solidify our CKC National Recertification Program.

We also had 13 new Leader/Instructor candidates participate in the 4.5 day L2I2 course at MKC conducted by Claudia van Wijk, Mike Smith, and Ryan Whetung with assistance by AOB's Neil Ross-Ross.    Again, these sessions went very well with the evaluation completed by the participants leading MKC students on a Lower Madawaska River Trip, and then teaching a set of total beginners on the final day.  Also Mike Smith returned from Newfoundland and the Atlantic Paddling Symposium where he lead an L2I2 for 8 instructors.

Thanks to all of the participants and leaders in making these training opportunities so successful.

Attention  Whitewater Ontario Clubs!

WO will be supporting a CKC Leader2 course at the Minden Wildwater Preserve - utilizing the Upper Gull River (class II) at the end of July.  Watch for more information and details on the WO website (under programs).

MEMBERSHIP  NEWS

The Whitewater Ontario Board of Directors approved a change in membership dates to coincide with the WO sanctioned events and club events insurance policy.  WO memberships now run from April 1 until March 31 of the next year.  If you join after September 1st your membership is good until the end of the next year.

WO would like to attract members from new paddlers who have taken introductory courses by helping them get on the water once they've learned the basics.  If you have ideas of how to turn course-takers into full-on whitewater enthusiasts, for example by putting them in contact with clubs, please contact Brad at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

MINDEN WILD WATER PRESERVE

Preserve Work Plan 2011

A complete renovation of the public washrooms at the Preserve is the main priority for 2011.  In addition to functionality issues, the washrooms require a high degree of maintenance due to current conditions.

A two step approach to correct the situation was agreed to:

1.      Immediately fix all water leaks and replace all toilets (three women’s, two men’s, two upstairs in the RPC) to get washrooms functioning

2.      Proceed as soon as possible to seek quotes on complete renovation of downstairs washrooms (walls, plumbing, sinks, counter, mirrors, flooring…)

As funding allows, additional expenditures (maintenance) forecast for 2011, in order of priority:

1.      Reshingle large picnic shelter

2.      Start picnic table replacement program (2 per year)

3.      Replace flooring upstairs in RPC

4.  Renovate upstairs washrooms and kitchen

COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE: VOLUNTEERS (STILL) NEEDED

Just another reminder that our Communications committee is still in need of your help.   With the volume of events, activities, and programs Whitewater Ontario is involved in, we need a strong communications team to ensure our members get the necessary information in a timely fashion and in the right place.  We need assistance in the area of website support, social media, and the use of other communication tools.  If interested – and we do need you – please contact Peter Farr at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

NATIONAL SLALOM TEAM ANNOUNCED

Five-time Olympian David Ford of Edmonton headlines the Canadian whitewater slalom team announced by CanoeKayak for the this summer’s World Cups and world championships following this past weekend’s trials in Valleyfield, Que. 

Ford is joined in the men’s K-1 (kayak singles event) by Paul Manning of Calgary and John Hastings of Ottawa. Named to the team in men’s C-1 (canoe singles) are Cameron Smedley of Dunrobin, Ont., and Julian Potvin Bernal of Chelsea, Que. The C-2 combos for the World Cup are Adam Cutts and Jamie Cutts of Ottawa as well as Daniel Purcells and Thomas Purcells of Innisfail, Alta. 

Named to the team in the women’s events are Jessica Groeneveld of Innisfail, Thea Froehlich of Ottawa and Sarah Boudens of Pembroke, Ont., in K-1 and Alexandra McGee of Ottawa, Haley Daniels of Calgary and Sindy Audet of St-Eustache, Que., in C-1. 

‘’This was a very exciting trials with a lot close battles for spots on the World Cup and world championship teams,’’ said Michal Staniszewski, head coach of the Canadian whitewater slalom national team. ‘’We had a performance criteria for this event and our athletes raced at a very high level. It certainly shows we are going in the right direction.’’ 

There are four stops on the whitewater slalom World Cup circuit this season. The first one is June 25-26 in Tacen, Slovenia, the second July 2-3 in L’Argentiere, France, the third July 9-10 in Markkleeberg, Germany and the fourth August 13-14 in Prague. 

Staniszewski said there were numerous surprises at the trials. 

‘’This is the biggest team we’ve named in many years for the World Cups and world championships,’’ he said. ‘’In the women’s C-1 for example, last year we had one entry compared to three this year. The last spot on the men’s K-1 went down right down to the wire.’’

The world championships are in August in Brastilava, Slovakia.

Congratulations to all of our Whitewater Ontario slalom athletes who participated in the Team Trials and  for contributed to a very impressive Ontario showing!

Full team results and photos can be viewed at:

http://www.ottawariverrunners.com/

Get out and enjoy your Ontario rivers!